Project Management

Food Alliance Midwest (FAM)

Food Alliance Midwest is an affiliate of Food Alliance www.foodalliance.org, a national nonprofit organization headquartered in Portland, Oregon. Food Alliance offers North America’s most widely recognized certification for sustainable farming, ranching, and food handling practices. FAM provides program support in the following Midwestern states: Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana. FAM provides leadership for grower and food handler recruitment, and market development for sustainable food partnerships with retailers, foodservice management companies, independent restaurants, and distributors.

Minnesota Cooks

Minnesota Cooks brings together local farmers with some of Minnesota's premier chefs as they demonstrate how they use farm fresh, Minnesota grown ingredients to create award-winning fare for their restaurants. The program includes a consumer education component about sustainable food production. The program connects chefs with farmers and sustainably-minded consumers year round, culminating with a major cooking demonstration at the Minnesota State Fair. CDS manages this program on behalf of the founding organization, Minnesota Farmer’s Union.

Testimonials

"CDS is the go-to trusted organization in
Minnesota and the Upper Midwest for business planning, feasibility studies,
marketing plans and other services needed for the long-term success of our
rural cooperatives. We consistently refer clients to CDS for business
development assistance with full confidence that they will receive personalized
and objective support."

- Dr. Mary Hanks, Minnesota Department of Agriculture

CDS is a nonprofit organization created and governed by the cooperative community of the Upper Midwest.